-- uefa champions league QUALIFYING --

UEFA Champions League Qualifying consists of four rounds (1st, 2nd, 3rd, Playoff) before the group stage. In the 3rd and Playoff qualifying rounds teams are separated into the two routes, the Champions Route (teams that won their domestic leagues) and the League Route (teams that did not win their domestic leagues). Teams are placed into each round based on their previous season’s domestic league rank and their association’s (federation) rank in the UEFA Associations' Club Coefficient Rankings.

All qualifying rounds are played under a two legged knockout system (home and away basis). The team which scores the greater aggregate of goals in the two matches advances to the next round. Away goal rules apply in the case of a tie (Explained at the bottom of the page).

first qualifying round

The Champions League first qualifying round consists of 8 teams. They include the domestic league champions of associations ranked 47th-54th in the UEFA Associations' Club Coefficient Rankings. The four winners of each two legged knockout pairs advance to the second qualifying round.

second qualifying round

The Champions League second qualifying round consists of 34 teams. They include the four teams from the first qualifying round and the domestic league champions of associations ranked 16th-46th in the UEFA Associations' Club Coefficient Rankings (except Liechtenstein). The 17 winners of each two legged knockout pairs advance to the third qualifying round (Champions Route).

third QUALIFYING ROUND

champions route

The Champions League third qualifying round (Champions route) consists of 20 teams. They include the 17 teams from the second qualifying round and the domestic league champions of associations ranked 13th-15th in the UEFA Associations' Club Coefficient Rankings. The 10 winners of each two legged knockout pairs advance to the playoff qualifying round (Champions Route). The 5 losing teams proceed to the Europa League Playoff Qualifying Round.

League ROUTE

The Champions League third qualifying round (League Route) consists of 10 teams. They include the domestic league runner-ups (2nd place) of associations ranked 7th-15th, and the domestic league third placed teams from the association ranked 6th in the UEFA Associations' Club Coefficient Rankings. The 5 winners of each two legged knockout pairs advance to the playoff qualifying round (League Route). The 5 losing teams proceed to the Europa League Playoff Qualifying Round.

playoff QUALIFYING ROUND

CHAMPIONS ROUTE

The Champions League playoff qualifying round (Champions route) consists of 10 teams. They include the 10 teams from the third qualifying round (Champions Route). The 5 winners of each two legged knockout pairs qualify for the UEFA Champions League Group Stage. The 5 losing teams proceed to the Europa League Group Stage.

League ROUTE

The Champions League playoff qualifying round (League Route) consists of 10 teams. They include the 5 winners from the third qualifying round (League Route), the domestic league 3rd placed teams of associations ranked 4th & 5th, and the domestic league fourth placed teams of associations ranked 1st-3rd in the UEFA Associations' Club Coefficient Rankings. The 5 winners of each two legged knockout pairs qualify for the UEFA Champions League Group Stage. The 5 losing teams proceed to the Europa League Playoff Qualifying Round.

-- uefa champions league group stage --

The UEFA Champions League Group Stage consists of 32 teams separated into 8 groups of 4 teams. They include the 5 winners from each Playoff Qualifying round (Champions & League Routes), the previous season's Europa League Champion, the domestic league champions of associations ranked 1st-12th, the domestic league runner-ups (2nd place) of associations ranked 1st-6th, and the domestic league third placed teams of associations ranked 1st-3rd in the UEFA Associations' Club Coefficient Rankings.

In the Group Stage, each team plays the other twice, home and away, totaling 6 fixtures per team. The top two teams from each group, after 6 games, advance to the Champions League Round of 16 while the 3rd placed team continues to the Europa League Round of 32. The last placed team is eliminated from both competitions. Three points are awarded for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss.

tie breaker criteria

If two or more teams are equal on points, the following criteria are applied to determine the rankings:

Higher number of points obtained in the group matches played among the teams in question (i.e. head to head results).

Superior goal difference from the group matches played among the teams in question (i.e. head to head goal difference).

Higher number of goals scored in the group matches played among the teams in question (i.e head to head goals scored).

Higher number of goals scored away from home in the group matches played among the teams in question (i.e head to head away goals).

Superior goal difference from ALL group matches played among the teams in question.

Higher number of goals scored from ALL group matches played among the teams in question.

Higher number of away goals scored from ALL group matches played among the teams in question.

Higher number of wins from ALL group matches played among the teams in question.

Higher number of away wins from ALL group matches played among the teams in question.

Lower number of disciplinary points received from ALL group matches played among the teams in question.

Higher UEFA Club Coefficient.

-- uefa champions league knockout phase --

The UEFA Champions League Knockout Phase consists of four rounds: the Round of 16, Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, and the Final. The Round of 16, Quarter-Finals, and Semi-Finals are played under a two legged knockout system (home and away basis). The team which scores the greater aggregate of goals in the two matches advances to the next round. Away goal rules apply in the case of a tie (explained at the bottom of the page). The final consists of a single game at a neutral site.

round of 16

The Champions League Round of 16 consists of 16 teams. They include the 8 group winners and 8 runner-ups from the Champions League Group Stage. The group winners are paired with the group runner-ups and will play the second leg at home. The 8 winners of each two legged knockout pairs advance to the Quarter-Finals.

Quarter-Finals

The Champions League Quarter-finals consist of 8 teams. They include the 8 winners from the Round of 16. There are no seeds in the draw and all teams are placed into one pot. The 4 winners of each two legged knockout pairs advances to the Semi-Finals.

Semi-Finals

The Champions League Semi-Finals consists of 4 teams. They include the 4 winners from the Quarter-Finals. There are no seeds in the draw and all teams are placed into one pot. The 2 winners of each two legged knockout pairs advance to the UEFA Champions League Final.

uefa champions league final

The Champions League Final includes the 2 winners from each Semi-Final. The final consists of a single game at a neutral site. In the case of a tie at the end of normal time, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played. If there is a tie at the end of extra time, penalties will follow. The winner of this match is crowned the UEFA Champions League Champion.

-- the away goal rule --

The away goal rule applies for the matches played under the two legged knockout system. This rule is applied if the two teams are tied on goals over the two legs. In this case the team which scores more away goals qualifies for the next stage. If this procedure does not produce a winner, i.e. if both teams score the same number of goals at home and away, two 15-minute periods of extra time are played at the end of the second leg. If, during extra time, both teams score the same number of goals, the away goals count double (i.e. the away club qualifies). If no goals are scored during extra time, penalties will determine which club qualifies for the next round.